Dairy & Beef Farmers

A simple calf system built on consistency with Matt Smith in Cornwall

Matt Smith, originally from New Zealand and now based in Cornwall, farms sheep and rears dairy beef calves as part of a mixed system.

With prior experience of probiotics, he was already looking for a way to support calf performance early in life, particularly where digestive upsets were holding calves back.

Through Barker’s Animal Health, a pro- and postbiotic liquid from Precision Microbes was introduced.

It was first used in a small group of calves that were off form. Improvements were seen quickly, with calves settling and progressing more evenly. From there, it became part of the daily system.

Now every calf receives 30ml in milk once daily, from arrival through to weaning.

The focus has shifted from reacting to issues to supporting calves consistently from the start—leading to a more even and predictable group of calves.

Calf Daily Gain Explained | Precision Microbes Results (+145g/Day)

Tommy was up in Offaly recently with David McElduff, a final-year Ag Science student in SETU, working on Pat Fitzpatrick’s farm as part of his thesis.

The focus was on two groups of heifer calves over a 28-day period.

Both groups were run side by side in the same shed, with the same feed and management throughout. The only difference — one group included Precision Microbes.

Weights were taken at the start and again after 28 days. The result: +145 grams per day in the calves on Precision Microbes. Just over 4kg extra liveweight across the period. At that stage of life, that level of additional growth is significant.

The full thesis will tell the complete story in time, but it was great to see this work being done on farm, in real conditions. Fair play to David. And thanks to David and Pat for the welcome.

Visiting Lisbeg Farms –Sarah & Chris Bourns on Calf Health in a large Spring-Calving Dairy in Galway

We hit the road to visit Lisbeg Farms, a busy, large-scale spring-calving dairy farm in Eyrecourt, Co. Galway, owned and run by Sarah and Chris Bourns.

We walk through how Sarah has refined her calf-rearing system — increasing milk volumes from two litres twice daily to four litres twice daily in young calves and building consistency into every part of the routine. 

Sarah shares her experience using Precision Microbes — 30 ml for 30 days — and topping up with an additional 30 ml during digestive upsets as part of her overall calf management programme.

“The Calves Speak for Themselves” – A UK Vet on Healthier Calves from Day One

In this video, UK farm vet and dairy farmer Ashley Cotton shares his firsthand experience using Precision Microbes probiotic and postbiotic for calves on his own farm in the North of England.

Ashley explains how, on a farm with known disease pressure, including cryptosporidium and rotavirus, Precision Microbes was introduced from birth at 30 ml per calf per day, supporting gut health during the most critical early-life period.

Stronger, Healthier Calves: Homer Farming Shares Their Precision Microbes Results

Join us on-farm at Homer Farming Ltd as we chat with Geoff Homer about how their family-run dairy and arable business uses Precision Microbes probiotic & postbiotic solutions for calves.

Homer Farming runs three block‐calving dairy herds across multiple units, milking just under 900 cows and supported by a team of 12-13 staff. They’ve built their business on strong team dynamics, clear KPIs, and robust calves.

 ⁠“It just improves the gut health so… they’re in a better position to battle whatever comes towards them.”

Attention to detail is the order of the day at Tateetra and Rathmore Farms

Our vet consultant, Tommy Heffernan, was recently out with well-known suckler farmer and breeder John Kingham in the northeast. It was calving time – busy, as always – and coming off a very successful sale, there was plenty to admire in both stock and system.

John has been using Precision Microbes on-farm for over five years, first introduced by his vet Paddy McGinn. He’s seen real value in supporting gut health and recovery in young calves – it’s now a staple part of the routine at calving.

As John says, “When you see something working year after year, it becomes part of the system.”

Calves Thriving on UK Dairy Farm: Jolene Saunders on Precision Microbes Probiotic & Postbiotic

On their family-run dairy farm in the UK, Jolene Saunders and her family care for over 280 cows. Like many dairy farmers, they’ve tried countless calf products in the past with mixed results.

But after using Precision Microbes Probiotic and Postbiotic for Calves for over a year, Jolene says the difference is clear:

• Calves are thriving
• Their coats are shiny and glossy
• Health issues are less frequent
• When calves do go down, they recover much quicker than before

Dairy Farmer Chris Keyes on Calf Rearing & Precision Microbes | Northern Ireland Testimonial

Chris Keyes from Armagh, Northern Ireland, shares his experience rearing calves and how Precision Microbes probiotic and postbiotic has become part of his system. Chris focuses on reducing stress for calves and farmers with a purpose-built calf shed, automatic calf feeder, and strong attention to colostrum quality.

Chris explains how Precision Microbes supports gut health, speeds up recovery when calves face challenges, and works best as a preventative tool in calf rearing. By using it through the automatic feeder, he ensures every calf gets the consistent daily support needed for immunity, growth, and resilience.

Attention to Detail on a Large Scale | Precision Microbes at Stowell Farms

We recently visited Stowell Farms to meet with Herd Manager Chris and see first-hand how precision and performance go hand-in-hand on one of the UK’s top dairy operations.

Veterinary consultant Tommy Heffernan from Precision Microbes returned to the farm after a successful 7-week trial using our pro and postbiotic liquid on their dairy heifer calves. The results spoke for themselves: faster recovery from scour, improved feeding behaviour, and stronger overall calf health.

The trial’s success led the Stowell team to expand use of the product across all calves — including bull calves. In this video, Chris shares what he’s observed, his philosophy on herd health and leadership, and how attention to detail drives large-scale success.

Calves Thriving with Precision Microbes | Vet Hannah Batty Shares UK Farm Trial Results

In this video, Tommy Heffernan visits Manor Farm in the Midlands, UK, to catch up with farm vet Hannah Batty. Hannah shares her experience trialling Precision Microbes with 66 calves on a 500-cow high-yielding dairy farm, focusing on both replacement heifers and beef-cross calves.

Initially sceptical, Hannah explains how Precision Microbes helped calves maintain milk intake, appetite, and energy during a cryptosporidium challenge — all while reducing the need for antibiotics and additional treatments.

Hear how improved gut health led to healthier, stronger calves post-weaning and why Manor Farm has decided to continue using Precision Microbes as a key part of their calf-rearing program.

Putting Precision into Wagyu Calf Rearing in Co Wicklow.

We were delighted to visit Co Wicklow and the farm of John Hourigan who runs Ridgeway Wagyu.

They specialise in producing premium Irish Wagyu beef renowned for its intense marbling, tenderness and distinctive taste. T

hey have a big focus on animal health and performance. We are delighted to see them feeding Precision Microbes unique liquid Probiotic and Postbiotic to calves through milk.